Diversity, Culture Remain Major Fault Lines in American Politics

A plurality of Americans say globalization has been good for the country

In addition, for the first time in the poll’s history, a plurality of Americans — 49 percent — believe that globalization has been good for the country, because it has opened up new markets for American products and resulted in more jobs.

That’s compared with 40 percent who think that globalization has been bad.

In past NBC/WSJ polls — in 1997, 2007, 2008 and 2014 — either majorities or pluralities said that globalization has been bad.

By party in the current poll, 59 percent of Clinton voters, 54 percent of Democrats and 49 percent of independents say globalization has been good for the country, compared with 41 percent of Trump voters and 42 percent of Republicans.

The percentage of those approving of same-sex marriage reaches another high

Also in the NBC/WSJ poll, 60 percent say they support same-sex marriage, which is up from 59 percent in 2015 and 53 percent in 2013.

By party in the current poll, 79 percent of Clinton voters, 77 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of independents favor gay marriage, versus 42 percent of Republicans and 37 percent of Trump voters.

50 percent are worried the government will go too far in restricting gun rights

But showing that not all of these issue trends are pointing in a more liberal or progressive direction, 50 percent of respondents say they are more concerned that the government will go too far in restricting gun rights — which is up from 35 percent who said this back in 1995.

By comparison, 45 percent say they’re more concerned that the government will not do enough to regulate access to firearms.

By party, 78 percent of Trump voters, 77 percent of Republicans and 49 percent of independents are worried the government will go too far here, versus 24 percent of Democrats and 23 percent of Clinton voters.

America the Pessimistic

Here’s

another headline from our NBC/WSJ social trends poll: The survey finds that less than a third of American adults — 28 percent — called America the “single best place to live in the world,” with another 17 percent calling it “among the very few best places.”

More respondents put United States closer to the middle of the pack, with 37 percent calling America merely “above average” and 14 percent rating the country as “average.” An additional four percent called the U.S. “below average” on the global scale.

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